Climbing and Outdoor News from Here and Abroad - 7/15/21

Northwest:

--A 9-year old boy was struck by rockfall at Index on Sunday. It appears that the boy was playing at the base of The Country when the rock hit him. The boy is in critical condition and there's a go-fund-me to help pay his hospital bills. To see the go-fund-me, click here.

--The Wenatchee World is reporting that, "Rescuers hoisted a climber to safety early Monday after they slid down a snowfield near the top Mount Stuart on Sunday night. State emergency management notified RiverCom 911 of an emergency beacon activation on the east side of Mount Stuart at 7:30 p.m., Sunday, said Jason Reinfeld with the Chelan County Sheriff’s Office." To read more, click here.

The aftermath of a wildfire.

--There are currently three different fires burning east of Washington Pass. As of this writing, the Pass is still accessible from the west, but the highway is closed near Mazama.

--CNN is reporting on the heat dome incident: "The unprecedented heat wave in the Pacific Northwest in late June "would have been virtually impossible without the influence of human-caused climate change," according to an analysis by more than two dozen scientists at World Weather Attribution." To read more, click here.

--A big rockfall incident was caught on camera last week at Asgard Pass next to Dragontail Peak. Massive rocks pummel the standard route over the pass. At this point, no injuries have been reported. To read about it and see the footage, click here.

--On Saturday July 24th, Squamish Access Society in conjunction with corporate partners Arc'Teryx Vancouver and Midnight Lightning Chalk will be hosting a stewardship event at Chek. Goals will be garbage collection, trail clearing and one major trail improvement project. The event will occur from 9am till 1pm leaving your afternoon free for climbing in the afternoon shade. No formal sign up is required but please email info@squamishaccess.ca. Any volunteers with trail building experience please highlight your skills.

--The AP is reporting that, "a federal jury has convicted a timber thief who authorities said started a large forest fire in Washington state, a case that prosecutors said marked the first time tree DNA had been introduced in a federal trial." To read more, click here.

Sierra:

--From Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Park: "Recent lightning strikes in the Sierra Nevada resulted in two new wildfires in the wilderness of Kings Canyon National Park. The Lost Fire, spotted on July 10, is currently mapped at 92 acres, and the Sugar Fire, spotted on July 11, is currently mapped at one-quarter acre. Neither fire currently poses any risks to life or property, and there are no closures due to the fires at this time. In order to mitigate smoke potential impacts throughout the remainder of the summer, and to minimize resource damage due to critically low fuel moistures, both fires are being suppressed. Firefighters have been inserted via helicopter to suppress the Sugar Fire. For the larger Lost Fire, located in remote, rugged terrain, south of the Middle Fork of the Kings River in the Slide Bluff area, fire personnel are utilizing a confine and contain strategy." 

Desert Southwest:

--The Sierra Wave is reporting on the heat wave in Death Valley: "Death Valley is the hottest, driest, and lowest place in the country, but last Friday, July 9,  it was really hot as it hit 130 degrees Fahrenheit for only the fifth time in its recorded history. On the following Saturday, July 10, it was 129.4 degrees, according to the National Weather Service." To read more, click here.

Colorado and Utah:

--CBS Denver is reporting that, "Wildland firefighters stepped in to rescue a 30-year-old woman who was struck in the back by a “microwave”-sized rock while climbing Saturday near the Lime Creek Trail." To read more, click here.

Notes from All Over:

--Gripped is reporting that, "n July 10, Kananaskis Country Public Safety Section performed a longline rescue of a rock climber who took a whipper on pitch-nine of Generosity 5.9 on EEOR above Canmore. There have been a number of rescues on Generosity over the years." To read more, click here.

--NYup.com is reporting that, "State Forest Rangers came to the rescue recently of an Adirondack climber who suffered a lower leg injury after a fall. The rescue included a “hoist extraction by a helicopter." To read more, click here.

--Outside is reporting that, "one year after a crowd of campers left popular Appalachian Trail peak Max Patch strewn with garbage and human waste, the Forest Service’s Appalachian Ranger District has announced a two year ban on camping in the area." To read more, click here.

--The Hill is reporting that, "Interior Secretary Deb Haaland is creating a task force aimed at increasing trust in the Interior Department's law enforcement agencies following incidents involving the National Park Service (NPS) law enforcement that have come under public scrutiny. In a new memo issued Wednesday, Haaland said she would create a task force seeking to improve law enforcement programs through the NPS, the Fish and Wildlife Service, the Bureau of Reclamation, the Bureau of Land Management and the Bureau of Indian Affairs." To read more, click here.

--Ski is reporting that, "a judge ruled late last month that a lawsuit against Ikon Pass parent company Alterra Mountain Co. can continue to be litigated. The suit, Goodrich et al. v. Alterra Mountain Company, brought by plaintiffs in Colorado, California, Illinois, Utah and Wisconsin, claims breach of contract following the pandemic-related resort shutdown last March." To read more, click here.

--And finally, there's video footage of what some people believe is Bigfoot crossing the Cass river in Michigan. It looks like a guy in a suit. Here it is!